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A group of researchers from a Portuguese university developed a family of new fluorophores to be used in biological imaging, either in cells or in entire organisms, in fluorescence microscopy techniques, including live cell imaging. The fluorophores are not toxic to cells and organisms, and light up cells by binding to organelles such as the Golgi apparatus, nucleus, and particularly lipid droplets. Importantly, the fluorophores change color with the polarity of the environment.
The university is looking for companies that would be interested in developing this technology further through partnership, or in commercializing the probes through licensing or acquisition of the patent.
Main advantages of its use
The invention presents several advantages compared with the existing probes:
Specifications
Many scientific research’s branches in the life sciences and health sciences make use of cell biology studies. In these, the ability to mark, distinguish, identify and characterize cells and subcellular compartments is instrumental in the acquisition of knowledge about the biogenesis, structure and function of cells, different subcellular organelles and its resident molecules. These studies generally make use of fluorophores.
With this invention from a Portuguese university, a family of fluorophores that mark cells and organelles has been prepared through an efficient and virtually costless synthesis, which can be easily scaled up. They present a large Stokes’ shift, and have an emission ranging from green to red depending on the polarity of their environment (solvatochromism). Particularly, they undergo a blue shift in their emission when in more lipophilic environment. They are highly membrane-permeant in live cultured cells (within 10-15 min), and are non-toxic to live cells and organisms, allowing to be used over an extended period of time (up to 48h).
Fluorophores can be used in cellular imaging, or imaging of entire organisms. When used in cells, they allow the visualization of the Golgi apparatus, or lipid droplets when cells are enriched in these. When used in zebrafish larvae, they allow the visualization of the fish bones (in orange-red), and of the fish muscular cells and fibers (in green). Importantly, the staining protocol is very fast, easy and straightforward.
Applications
Application for cell biology research, basic and applied to e.g. health sciences, and potentially diagnosis of diseases where the lipid environment is altered, particularly metabolic diseases and syndromes.
Intellectual property status
Pending patent.
Current development status
Existing laboratorial prototypes. Some proof-of-concept assays already performed for a small set of fluorophores
Desired business relationship
The university is looking for companies that would be interested in developing this technology further through partnership, or in commercializing the probes through licensing or acquisition of the patent.
The University of Aveiro is a young and innovative university, which fosters entrepreneurship and technology and knowledge transfer, with expertise in a wide range of knowledge areas namely IT, Life Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Health, Environmental Sciences), Nanotechnology and Materials Science, Mechanics, Physics, Mathematics, Building, Design and Management. uacoopera is the Technology Transfer Office of University of Aveiro. This office engages in value adding activities such as start-up and spin-off creation, support to university-industry cooperation (sponsored research and consultancy services), IP protection and prosecution, licensing, marketing, among others. It covers four main interrelated functional areas – Intellectual Property Management, Licensing, Entrepreneurship, and Industry Liaison.
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